dear lottery Ting (seventh right), Lau (10th right), Izkandar (fourth left) and others cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the new facility. — Photo by Peter Boon SIBU (Dec 3): The new Kampung Nangka Wawasan lorry parking lot at Jalan Tapang here should help in tackling problems of inadequate parking spaces and illegal parking, said Datuk Michael Tiang. The Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government commended Persatuan Pengangkutan Lori Wawasan Sibu for their hard work and dedication which culminated in the official opening of the new lorry parking facility yesterday. “This facility will greatly benefit local and outstation lorry operators by addressing the issue of inadequate parking spaces and helping to prevent illegal parking fines issued by the traffic police, JPJ (Road Transport Department), and CVLB (Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board). “This parking facility is strategically positioned near the town centre. This makes it highly convenient for lorry drivers, and its fair and reasonable pricing structure – whether on a daily or monthly basis – adds to its appeal. “I encourage more lorry operators to consider utilising this facility for their parking needs,” said the Pelawan assemblyman. It is informed later that there are 22 parking spaces for lorries at the new facility. Tiang’s text-of-speech was read by Kapitan Lau Sei Kwong, who represented him at the event. Adding on, Tiang said as responsible operators, the driver must park their lorries at safe and designated locations, rather than at the residential areas or by the road. “Such practices not only pose safety risks, especially during night-time or rainy weather, but also reflect poorly on us for not adhering to regulations. We must take responsibility for any potential accidents caused by such negligence.” Meanwhile, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing noted that for years, many lorries have been parking at residential areas or commercial centres due to the lack of parking facilities dedicated to them. “This has not only caused inconvenience and danger but, in some cases, damage to public infrastructure due to the weight of these vehicles. “Reports on such issues are common, reflecting the pressing need in this area. The thoughtfully planned and constructed new parking facility by your association addresses this demand effectively. “Its strategic location and multi-functional design provide a valuable solution for the industry’s challenges,” said Tiong, whose speech was read by a political secretary to Premier, Joshua Ting at the event. Tiong, who is Bintulu MP and Dudong assemblyman, believed that this parking lot for lorries at Jalan Tapang would offer a safe and convenient space for lorry drivers and transport operators to rest and park. “Whether for daily or short-term rental, the facility caters to diverse needs, especially benefiting operators requiring flexible, non-long-term parking solutions.” Adding on, Tiong said the Sarawak government remained committed to improving transportation infrastructure and supporting the logistics industry. “I believe that with joint efforts from the government and the public, more similar projects will be implemented to provide better support and security for the industry.” Persatuan Pengangkutan Lori Wawasan Sibu secretary Kho Kwong Tai in his speech said the facility has 22 parking lots, and is able to accommodate compact and large lorries. He said lorry operators will be charged a fee of RM30 for large vehicles and RM20 for compact vehicles, per day. “For those who opt for a monthly charge, we encourage them to join as members, during which they will be charged according to the size of their vehicle,” he said. Sibu Municipal Council deputy chairman Mohammed Abdullah Izkandar Roseley represented chairman Clarence Ting at the event, which was also attended by Councillor Rory Wong.CPM district conference: Conduct of EP Jayarajan, G Sudhakaran, SFI and police becomes a hot potato

KYIV: Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Ukraine on Monday to reaffirm German support for Kyiv after becoming the first major ally of the war-torn country to speak to Vladimir Putin in years to urge negotiations. His surprise visit comes as Ukrainian forces are buckling across the eastern front and amid fears about future US support once Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. Russia launched another aerial barrage of hundreds of drones hours before Scholz arrived, leaving one dead and three wounded in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil. Scholz had said he would meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and announce another package of military support worth €650 million ($680 million) to be delivered by the end of the year. Scholz and Zelensky later met at an undisclosed location and reviewed military drones manufactured by Ukrainian and German firms. They also visited a hospital and spoke to people wounded in the war. “I would like to make it clear here on the ground that Germany will remain Ukraine’s strongest supporter in Europe,” said Scholz, who faces new elections in February after his coalition collapsed last month. “Ukraine can rely on Germany — we say what we do. And we do what we say,” he added in a post on social media. Scholz in mid-November spurred controversy and concern in Ukraine by becoming the first Western leader in years to speak by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Low Kremlin expectations for visit Zelensky at the time slammed the call, saying it had opened a “Pandora’s Box” by weakening Putin’s international isolation. In the call, Scholz condemned the war and “urged Russia to show willingness to negotiate with Ukraine with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace”, the chancellor’s office said. The Kremlin said Monday that it had no expectations from Scholz’s visit. “I would not say we have expectations from this visit. Germany is continuing its line of unconditional support to Ukraine,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Putin had not passed on a message to Zelensky through Scholz. Ukraine faces a tough winter, with Russia unleashing drone and missile attacks against its power grid. The air force said Russia had attacked overnight with 110 drones, including the Iranian-designed Shahed unmanned aerial vehicle from four regions of Russia. The bombardment killed a 45-year-old man in Ternopil, a town of around 224,000 people, where strikes last month left thousands without electricity, authorities said. “Unpunished evil never stops. And it will not limit itself by our borders,” Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak wrote on social media in response to the attack. Scholz’s visit comes ahead of the January 20 inauguration of Trump, who has pledged to speedily end the war, raising fears he will try to force Ukraine to accept a deal on Moscow’s terms. ‘Russian roulette’ Separately, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday warned her Chinese counterpart that Beijing’s support for Moscow would impact ties and instead urged China to help end the Ukraine conflict. Zelensky said Sunday that his country needed security guarantees from NATO and more weapons to defend itself before any talks with Russia. He made the comments after meeting the EU’s new head of diplomacy Kaja Kallas and EU Council chief Antonio Costa, who were visiting Kyiv as a show of support on their first day in office. Under Scholz, Germany has become the second-biggest arms supplier to Ukraine after the United States, but has refused to send Kyiv long-range missiles that could strike deep inside Russia. Berlin has stuck to that approach even after US President Joe Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to fire long-range ATACMS missiles into Russia for the first time. In a campaign speech in Berlin on Saturday, Scholz criticized political rivals pushing for Germany’s Taurus long-range missile system to be delivered to Ukraine. Speaking to his Social Democratic Party, Scholz said that confronting Moscow, a nuclear power, with such a threat would amount to playing “Russian roulette” with Germany’s security. — AFPSocial media has changed the way we live our lives. All sorts of information, including personal data, are available with one computer or mobile device click. While this is good because news can be spread as fast as possible, it's a double-edged sword because personal things that should be kept private are sometimes outed without a filter. For stars, this information could be potentially damaging to their careers. While that is true, Philadelphia 76ers Hall of Famer says the social media era has enhanced the players' earning capacity. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

resident-elect Donald Trump met with moderator Kristen Welker for his first televised broadcast network interview since his win in the November presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris. As the U.S. and the rest of the world prepares for Trump’s return to the White House in January, there is much discussion about what the President-elect plans to do once he takes office alongside his Vice President, J.D. Vance. In the sit-down interview, which took place on Friday, Dec. 6 and aired on Sunday, Dec. 8, Trump covered a range of high-profile topics, including his plans related to abortion, immigration, tariffs, and his controversial Administration selections. He also spoke about his foreign policy plans. Here are some of the key topics Trump spoke out about in his televised interview as he prepares for his second presidency. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned in 2022, Trump has often applauded himself for the ruling. Throughout the 2024 election, abortion played a large role as the Trump-Vance ticket went head-to-head with Harris and her VP pick, Tim Walz. Trump argued he would not sign a federal ban on abortion when elected, while the Harris-Walz ticket argued that Trump would further restrict abortion rights if re-elected. When asked whether he would restrict abortion pill access, Trump told Welker: “I’ll probably stay with exactly what I’ve been saying for the last two years. And the answer is no." This comes after Vance tried to seem more moderate on abortion in the vice presidential debate, Standing on the podium, Vance said that the Republican party needs "to do so much better of a job at earning the American people’s trust back on this issue where they frankly just don’t trust us.” Welker asked Trump, who was convicted during a high-profile earlier this year, whether he plans to pardon Jan. 6 rioters when in office. Trump stated that he will give “first day” consideration of whether he will pardon people convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. “We're going to look at individual cases, but I'm going to be acting very quickly," he said, adding that he'll be looking at this his "first day" as the “people have been in there [jail] for years.” Amid reports that political figures who could be in Trump’s crosshairs, the President-elect spoke out once again against the Jan. 6 committee, including Liz Cheney, saying: "For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail." Trump defended his controversial pick of Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, a selection that has been marked . “He's a very smart guy,” Trump told Welker, saying he had confidence Hegseth would be confirmed by the Senate. “I’ve had a lot of senators call me up to say he's fantastic.” He also defended his pick of as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), who has been deeply critical of the FBI in the past. In an interview last year with former White House Chief Strategist and right-wing agitator (conducted before Bannon’s incarceration), Patel said he “will go out to find the conspirators not just in government but in the media.” When asked by Welker if he will fire current FBI Director Christopher Wray, who still has three years remaining in his 10-year term, in order for Patel to take charge, Trump said he is “not happy with him.” “It would sort of seem pretty obvious that if Kash gets in, he’s going to be taking someone’s place,” Trump continued. Trump continued to defer to Patel and his pick for Attorney General, Pam Bondi, when pushed by Welker to say whether he will go after his political opponents, including investigator Jack Smith, saying he wants Bondi to do “what she wants to do.” Trump was also asked if he has plans to direct Patel to go after President Joe Biden, to which the President-elect said, “I’m really looking to make our country successful; I’m not looking to go back into the past... Retribution will be through success.” He stated that he would not appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Biden, something he proposed on , “unless I find something that I think is reasonable.” He also called out Biden’s recent choice to after previously stating that he would not, saying: “I always knew he was going to give him a pardon.” Trump will be the oldest U.S. President by the end of his term—and , particularly when it was Biden going head-to-head with Trump. When Harris took over the race from Biden, she to the public, in which her physician said she “possesses the physical and mental resiliency required to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.” The Harris campaign called on Trump to be equally transparent about sharing his medical records, but he did not do so during the election. The most recent medical report publicly shared by Trump was featured in a post, which included a screenshot of a letter from Dr. Bruce Aronwald, sharing little detail but saying the former President was in “excellent health.” Welker asked Trump if he plans on releasing his full medical records, rather than just a letter. “I would and I think anybody should,” he said, before adding: “Sure, I have no problem with it.” On wider matters of health care, Trump continued to express his dissatisfaction with Obamacare, but did not elaborate on a moment in his September with Harris, in which when Trump was asked whether he had a plan for health care reform, his answer was: “I have concepts of a plan.” “Obamacare stinks,” he said on . “If we come up with a better answer, I would present that answer to Democrats and to everybody else and I’d do something about it.” Trump has caused much discussion with his on all products imported from America’s trading partners: Mexico, Canada, and China. When Welker pointed out that experts have said such tariffs could impact the prices of a range of imported goods, from cars to electronics, Trump defended his idea. “I’m a big believer in tariffs. I think tariffs are the most beautiful word. I think they're beautiful. It's going to make us rich,” he said. When asked if he could guarantee the tariffs would not impact pricing for the average American he said: “I can’t guarantee anything, I can’t guarantee tomorrow.” Trump emphasized that immigration will be one of the first things he will begin working on when he returns to the White House. Throughout the campaign, Trump promised a slew of new policies regarding immigration, including mass deportations, ending birthright citizenship, and reinstating the “ policy. Trump doubled down on some of these policies, arguing that he will be focused on deporting migrants who came to America illegally and have criminal records first, but that eventually the aim would be for all illegal immigrants to be deported. “Well, I think you have to do it... it’s a very tough thing to do. But you have to have, you know, you have rules, regulations, laws. They came in illegally,” he said. “The people who have been treated very unfairly are the people who have been online for 10 years [waiting] to come into the country.” When asked by Welker about mixed immigration families—some whereby the parents might be in the U.S. illegally but the children are there legally—and if the plan is to deport the families together, Trump said, “I don’t want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.” On the topic of Dreamers—undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents—Trump said he was willing to work with Democrats on a plan, and that he wants to see them remain in the country. “We're talking many years ago, they were brought into this country many years ago, some of them are no longer young people, and in many cases, they become successful,” he said. “We’re going to have to do something with them.”

NoneHry moves 44 officers, Khemka back with VijPresident-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will investigate for any potential links between childhood vaccines and autism, he told “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker in a Friday interview. Welker pressed Trump on Kennedy’s stances on childhood vaccines and asked Trump if he’d like to see them eliminated. “If they’re dangerous for the children,” Trump responded. “When you look at some of the problems, when you look at what’s going on with disease and sickness in our country, something’s wrong.” “Are you talking about autism?” Welker asked. “Well, if you take a look at autism — go back 25 years — autism was almost non-existent, it was one out of 100,000. Now it’s close to one out of 100. I mean, what’s happening?” Trump asked. BREAKING: Trump announces that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will investigate childhood vaccines and their potential link to autism, as well as other possible causes, as the head of HHS. pic.twitter.com/i0M58oqEc6 — Leading Report (@LeadingReport) December 8, 2024 Trump also revealed he invited leaders from drug companies to Mar-a-Lago for a discussion with Kennedy about vaccines. Trump’s pick to lead HHS subagency Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Mehmet Oz , was also in attendance, Trump told Welker. (RELATED: RFK Jr. Wants Fluoride Out Of Water — And It’s Not Nearly As Crazy As His Detractors Claim) While expressing openness to some of Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism, Trump also praised other vaccines. “Look, I’m not against vaccines. The polio vaccine is the greatest thing. If someone told me to get rid of the polio vaccine, they’re gonna have to work real hard to convince me. I think certain vaccines are incredible. But maybe some aren’t. And if they aren’t, we have to find out.” Kennedy’s critics have long castigated him over his views on vaccines. Since announcing an independent bid to run for president in October 2023, Kennedy has claimed that he is not anti-vaccine. He does, however, have a history of promoting skepticism of certain vaccines including the measles, mumps and rubella (MME) inoculation “What I say to people is, ‘You shouldn’t believe me. Don’t believe what I say ... you need to look at the science yourself. You can’t believe the CDC because they’re owned by the pharmaceutical industry,'” Kennedy told hip-hop and R&B morning radio show “The Breakfast Club” in August 2023. “We live in a democracy; you have the responsibility to do research yourself. Unfortunately, and you should. But you can’t believe your doctors because they’re believing the CDC. You need to actually say to your doctors, ‘Have you looked at the listed side effects of that vaccine? Have there been any studies that actually show that people who take it are better off five years later than people who don’t?’ He will not be able to answer that question. When I was a kid, I got three vaccines and I was fully compliant, but today kids — my kids got 72 vaccines. 72 doses and what happened is in 1986 ... In 1979 there was a new vaccine called the diphtheria tetanus and pertussis vaccine that was added to that schedule. That vaccine was causing brain damage or death in one in every 300 kids. The CDC was telling the public it was one in a million but then NIH did a study with UCLA and they were shocked and they discontinued that vaccine in this country,” Kennedy said. Kennedy’s critics maintain that his views on vaccines are dangerous. One example they often cite is a 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa which occurred shortly after Kennedy visited the island.

Arnolfo Teves Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO The Department of Justice (DOJ) is expecting to see former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. back in the country soon to face murder charges after the Court of Appeals in Timor-Leste granted the Philippine government’s extradition request for the second time. While acknowledging that Teves could still appeal the latest decision of the Timor-Leste appeals court, Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV on Friday said this could be the last chance for the dismissed lawmaker to resort to that legal remedy. READ: Timor-Leste grants extradition request vs Teves for 2nd time According to Clavano, the DOJ is confident that the decision will no longer change since this is the second time the Timor-Leste government granted the Philippines’ extradition request since June. “In a way, we have seen the sentiment of the [Timor-Leste] justices, right? This is already the second instance, and their decision remains the same. That’s why we don’t, we do not expect that Timor-Leste’s decision will change,” he said. “They respected our laws in the decision. They used our own laws, and they also used international law in coming up with this very sound decision. So we are happy and we welcome this decision. This is something that we have been looking forward to and we will not stop until [Teves] faces the charges here in the Philippines,” Clavano added. Teves has been named as the alleged mastermind behind the slaying of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in Pamplona town on March 4, 2023. Nine others were also killed with Degamo when a group of armed men barged into the family compound where the governor was meeting with constituents. Teves is facing 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder and four counts of attempted murder in the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51. He, however, had denied all allegations. Following an Interpol red notice in February, Teves was arrested on March 21 in Dili, Timor-Leste, while playing golf. In a decision on Dec. 2, the Timorese Court of Appeals, through a majority vote of two, granted the Philippines’ extradition request, citing the criminal charges filed against Teves. “It is clear from the extradition request that the State of the Philippines is seeking extradition for criminal proceedings on the grounds that the extraditee (Teves) is the mastermind of several murders, some of which were committed and others thwarted and attempted, and not on the grounds that the extraditee supported this or that presidential candidate and is or is not a political enemy,” the decision read. “The extradition request is not made for political purposes, but only to bring justice to the numerous victims of the multiple crimes of murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder mentioned above,” it added. Teves had also told the court that he feared for his life should he be sent back to the Philippines. But the appeals court said there was not enough evidence to support such claims, especially after the Philippine government assured in its request that it would abide by international and domestic laws against torture. “The witness Topacio said that the extraditee did not return to the Philippines because he was informed that there was political persecution against him, but he was not credible on this point since the Court was convinced that the extraditee did not return in order not to answer the criminal charges at issue in the present extradition proceedings,” the court said, referring to Ferdinand Topacio, one of Teves’ lawyers. In June, the Court of Appeals in Timor-Leste granted the Philippine government’s request to extradite Teves. Teves’ camp, however, filed a motion for reconsideration the following month, but it was denied in August. In September, Teves’ return was further delayed as his extradition case underwent “new proceedings.” The DOJ, in an earlier statement, said that Teves’ legal team had challenged the court’s extradition decision, citing concerns over the number of judges involved. “This is a clear afterthought, raised only after the proceedings concluded unfavorably for him,” the DOJ said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . It noted that Teves and his legal team had been fully engaged in the process and given every opportunity to present their case. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH

Police in Georgia on Saturday fired water cannons to disperse pro-EU protesters rallying for a ninth consecutive day against the prime minister's decision to shelve talks on joining the European Union. The Caucasus nation has been engulfed in turmoil since the governing Georgian Dream party declared that it had won a disputed October 26 election. The party's critics have accused it of creeping authoritarianism and of steering the country back towards Russia. Thousands of defiant pro-EU protesters in Georgia began to rally Friday eve after the prime minister claimed victory in a "battle" against the opposition. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets since the election to protest against alleged electoral fraud. Fresh rallies took place across the country after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced last week that Georgia would not hold talks on European Union membership until 2028. Police have fired tear gas and water cannon against pro-EU protests in Tbilisi and hundreds of arrests have been made, triggering outrage at home and mounting international condemnation. France, Germany and Poland condemned what they called the government's "disproportionate" use of force against protesters and opposition leaders in a joint statement Friday. Shortly after midnight on Saturday, riot police in full gear moved in with water cannons to disperse the rally outside the parliament building, making arrests as the crowd retreated a few metres (yards), an AFP reporter witnessed. Earlier on Friday evening, several thousand people blocked the street outside parliament, with some blowing whistles and others setting off firecrackers. The crowd was smaller than on previous nights and the mood quieter, but protesters rejected claims the movement was dying out. "People will continue the protest," said one demonstrator, 23-year-old Giorgi, wearing a Georgian flag and a back scarf pulled over his nose. "They're patient, I will be here for the rest of my life if it is necessary to save my country." Separate protests were held outside Georgia's Public Broadcaster -- accused of being a government propaganda tool -- as well as the education ministry and the country's tourism administration offices. Shalva Alaverdashvili, founder of the Georgian hotels' federation, told AFP that the "unexpected and unacceptable" suspension of EU accession talks has severely hit the country's tourism industry, which accounts for seven percent of the country's GDP. Thousands have also staged anti-government rallies in the second city of Batumi on the Black Sea coast. On Friday evening, a court in Tbilisi put a 19-year-old youth activist in pre-trial detention. Zviad Tsetskhladze had been arrested during the protests on charges of "organising, leading, and participating in group violence". Tsetskhladze told the judge: "Democracy in Georgia is no more. The rule of law has been crushed. "Our actions are a form of resistance, aimed at preserving the rule of law, defending democracy, and protecting the rights of every individual." Earlier Friday Prime Minister Kobakhidze praised his security forces for "successfully neutralising the protesters' capacity for violence". "We have won an important battle against liberal fascism in our country," he told a news conference, using language reminiscent of how the Kremlin in Russia targets its political opponents. "But the fight is not over. Liberal fascism in Georgia must be defeated entirely," Kobakhidze said, repeating an earlier threat to "complete the process of neutralising the radical opposition". With both sides ruling out a compromise, there appeared to be no clear route out of the crisis. The leader of the opposition Lelo party, Mamuka Khazaradze, said the ruling party "no longer has the strength or resources to stand against the people." The government "has resorted to arresting young activists and political opponents out of fear of relentless public protests and growing civil disobedience by public servants," he told AFP. The interior ministry said police had detained three more individuals Friday for "participating in group violence", punishable by up to nine years' jail. Masked officers have raided several opposition party offices and arrested opposition leaders earlier this week, while around 300 people have been detained at rallies. On Friday Nika Gvaramia, leader of the opposition Akhali party, was sentenced to 12 days in prison. Alexandre Elisashvili, leader of the Strong Georgia opposition group, was remanded in custody for two months of pretrial detention. More trouble is expected after December 14, when Georgian Dream lawmakers elect a loyalist to succeed pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili. She has vowed not to step down until the parliamentary polls are re-run. Local media has also reported protests across the country, including in the cities of Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Rustavi and Telavi. Critics of Georgian Dream are enraged by what they call its betrayal of Tbilisi's bid for EU membership, enshrined in the constitution and supported by around 80 percent of the population. Several ambassadors, a deputy foreign minister, and other officials have resigned over the suspension of EU talks. Georgian Dream, in power for more than a decade, has advanced controversial legislation in recent years, targeting civil society and independent media and curbing LGBTQ rights. Brussels warned such policies were incompatible with EU membership, while domestic critics accuse the government of copying Russia's playbook. Georgia's own rights ombudsman has accused the police of "torture" against those arrested. ub-im/sbkWhat to know about Northern California's rare tsunami warning